N. Korea launches missiles 2 days after Moon’s remark on Cheonan sinking

North Korea launched two short-range missiles assumed to be KN-25 in Wonsan, Gangwon on Sunday. The fourth provocation in March came two days after South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Cheonan sinking was an act of North Korea at a ceremony marking the Yellow Sea Defense Day on Friday.

According to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea launched two short-range missiles from a wheeled transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) at around 6:10 a.m. on Sunday. The launch vehicle flew around 230 kilometers towards the Northeast direction at a maximum altitude of around 30 kilometers before falling in the East Sea.

The South Korean military believes that they are super-large multiple rocket launchers whose improved performance was highlighted by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, considering the maximum altitude, flying distance and the fact that there was no pull-up operation in which rockets soar when they start to fall.

North Korea launched two super-large multiple rocker launchers in Wonsan on March 2 and three launchers in Sondok, South Hamgyong Province on March 9. The interval was around 20 seconds this time, similar to the previous launches. This means North Korea’s multiple launch ability has become more stabilized.

The South Korean presidential office Cheong Wa Dae announced Sunday that it was paying sharp attention to the developments related to North Korea’s missile launches without convening the National Security Council. When conservative parties said President Moon Jae-in’s lukewarm attitude encouraged North Korea’s provocation, Cheong Wa Dae announced later that day that the head of National Security Office held an emergency video conference and ordered military readiness posture.


Kyu-Jin Shin newjin@donga.com